Twenty Letters From Abducted Children

All of the children that wrote the following letters were abducted by the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) and escaped. I asked them to write about their abduction by the LRA, their experiences while with the LRA and their escape from the LRA. The English used in the letters is different from what most of us are used to. However, with a little effort you will understand what the children are trying to say. The more letters you read, the more understandable they will become. The names of the children that wrote the following letters have been excluded for their protection as well as the exact school name they now attend. The names of the villages they are from are also excluded to protect any family members that still survive in the village. If you wish to sponsor a specific child simply refer to the number at the beginning of each letter to identify them.

The letters often refer to “Pilgrim”. Pilgrim is a non-profit Christian organization located in Uganda. The abbreviation IDP camp is also used. This stands for Internal Displaced People camp or more simply a refugee camp. The “Arrow Boys” are also occasionally mentioned in the letters. This is a group of boys from the villages who took matters into their own hands and began fighting the LRA to protect their families from burning, raping, torturing and killing. It is believed that the Ugandan government gave riffles to them to defend villagers and go after children who had been abducted. The key to the Arrow Boys success against the LRA has been strong community support and an efficient intelligence network. The Arrow Boy’s are considered to be excellent fighters in the bush.

Cruz Stamets

LETTER #1 This girl was 13 years old girl when she was abducted.

Dear Madam

This is a story about how I was abducted by Lord Resistance Army (LRA)

My name is XXXX. I am Ugandan by nationality. I am 17 years old and I am an orphan because both of my parents were killed by the LRA rebels when they came to Lango land in northern part of Uganda, that means to say I am Alangi by tribe.

So these rebels came and burnt our home and now I have no one to help me and my siblings at the camp.

In fact I do thank God for Pilgrim for helping us and bringing hopes to our lives again and I always thank and pray that you will continue with the same hearts.

Any way I am from Lira District in Amugu sub-county, IDP’s camp. It was on Saturday in the morning when it had rained heavily and the rebels came and ambushed us, so they captured me and some of my friends whom I was running with. They chased us and we were caught and by then I was carrying our last born child which my mum left and I was the one taking care of her, and I was told to throw the baby down so that they could tie me with those they had captured even me. I put her down and she was left there while crying but this people couldn’t be bothered for the child. So we went for 15 miles on foot, after reaching a place called Aloi. They got soldiers and I managed to escape at that time after that suffering, moving for long distance, hunger since there was no food to eat and some of my friends were killed since they were unable to walk on foot.

So when I came back, I found that my grand mother who had been keeping us was also killed and by then I remained hopeless and stranded since there was no where to go, till when Pilgrim came and brought me school. So I pray that may the almighty god bless you for what you are doing to help us. Amen

All from XXXX

May the almighty

God bless you forever

and ever amen.

LETTER #2 This girl was 13 years old when she was abducted by LRA.

Dear Madam /Sir

I am known by the names XXXX, aged 17 years Uganda.

While being abducted by the rebels I passed in the following conditions with the rebels in the bush.

First of all madam I was picked (taken by LRA) at our place in Katakwi District and XXXX Village.

After being picked I was taken up to a certain place were I couldn’t even identify. They had already beaten me, after that they tied my hands and started abusing us, beating while even giving us to stay in hunger. Sometime you say maybe your tired of some thing they just kill you and even some times we were given to kill people and break the shops in order to get what they could eat. Girls we were raped and given to soldiers. Some of the girls were taken to the boss in case you are beautiful and some were just killed in case you refused to get married to a soldier. How I escaped was no simple thing. It was around lunchtime when the UPDF’s (Ugandan Army) came in order to fight them (LRA) and grab some kids from them. As they were fighting we got an advantage of running from the place where they were to a place where the UPDF’s soldiers were. I was placed in an aeroplane and brought to a certain place in town and later they announced for our parents to come and pick us up and my mum heard and came and picked me also. Those were the problems I experienced in the bush.

UPDF means Uganda People’s Defense Force.

Please Madam thank you for your help

XXXX

God bless

LETTER #3 This boy was 14 years old when he was abducted by LRA.

Dear My Friends;

I think of you all the time, from there back to me. I am some how fine despite of all the problems I met when the (LRA) rebels abducted me.

I am a Ugandan boy of age 18 years and Etesoi by tribe. I am a born of XXXX village Amuria District which is a branch of Soroti District and there by informing you that I was also abducted by Kony rebels in 2003 when they invaded our district.

It was on Monday 16^th June 2003 when the LRA rebels came and surrounded our village at around 4pm and looted things, killed people including my parents and abducted me. They tied my hands and I was given to carry a heavy load of things which they looted for instance, sugar and salt and also walking over long distances without eating well.

My friends and I really suffered. I was beaten almost daily because I could not talk simply because I did not know their language and so whatever they could ask me I would just keep quiet and this made them to hate me. It was just like what they always say survival for the fittest and if you are not fit eventually you will die, but God kept me despite of all the mistreatment they imposed on me, but I thank God that I am alive.

After about a period of one year, we went towards Gulu and on our way we met with the soldiers (Ugandan). They started exchanging fire for about two hours constant without stopping and it was around 2pm. Both soldiers and rebels were killed during that battle, but I decided to smear my stomach with blood and I remained laying down like I was a dead person, but in actual since I was still alive and good enough the rebels were defeated and they took off and left me they thought that maybe I have already died.

When the rebels took off the soldiers started charging and when they were charging I stood up quickly and I raised up my hands and they were able to identify me as an abducty, because they were aware of the way I was dressed.

They brought me up to their barracks and gave me some help of treatment after that they brought me up to Lira where I came up to Soroti and finally they took me up to the village after the situation had already improved.

When I went home I was helpless nobody could take care of me. I could not go back to school since I was again the one taking care of my two young brothers.

But thanks to the organization of Pilgrim for bringing hopes and senses back and now I am at school though I still need some help but thank God for that he has done for me.

I would like to tell you that through your prayers and your help I would like to be a doctor because I am good on sciences.

I conclude by saying that it’s written on the Bible that God will bless those who help the needy and may god bless you. I also beg you to send my greetings to your entire families and those in Christ at large.

Thanks

Yours XXXX

LETTER #4 This boy was 13 years old when he was abducted by the LRA.

My Story of abduction

I am XXXX, 17 years old. A Ugandan born of Amuria district, Amuria County. Morungatuny Sub-County, Ohwa parish, XXXX village.

I was abducted in 2003 when the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels were in Teso Sub-region. I was abducted together with my father in our place at around 11 o’clock, when we were running to hide, my father followed the LRA rebels because of me for he did not wanted me to be taken by the rebel and so we were all taken. Later we reached the group and where the whole group was cooking from, the father was separated from me and I was taken to where the abducted children were waiting for food from other rebels. Upon reaching there, the rebels who abducted me made me to sit down and placed oil and anointed it on my face, chest, ears and arms for form of a cross as he said that the oil could protect from any bullets from the UPDF soldiers and every one had to be anointed. When the food was brought for eating, we were to eat without washing hands and after that they then gave me a big bag to carry on my back at the time of moving. Moving for a little while, I was slapped by one of the LRA soldiers because I didn’t leave the way for him and then we reached the swamp and the helicopter (gunship) came and we were taken and hidden in the bush. After that they started moving and again started giving position to the boys for sleeping and cooking. We the abducties were now tied after eating. On waists on a line and a convoy of a number of abducties so as not to escape and we were guarded by the rebels surrounding us all night and before tying, they had to check our pockets if we had any razorblade for cutting the rope and therefore escape at night. Then we reached to the districts of Pader, Kitgum and Lira, the rebels referred the areas as secured areas without government troops and they then started to train us on how to kill by catching the any abducties who tries to escape and be got and brought back and they could give us to kill him or her as an example to other’s. This made most of the abducted children afraid and they could not escape. In Acholi Land, there was no food and we had to eat dried maize and sorghum and cassava without meat and life was very difficult, and most of the children became weak and they could not move for long distances and the rebels killed them because they were wasting time and others even had wounds which were untreated and such children they could give to some old people who stayed in the village and unable to run with others. At that time the rebels got a report from the LRA top commander Joseph Kony that his troops should go to Teso and begin killing boys at first. They were commanded to only abduct children and not to kill the old people. We came back to Teso in the district of Amuria, Katakwi and Soroti to kill and by then I was an escort one of the commander in our boy called Ciriko and our overall leader of the group was Charles Turbuley and the group was called headquarters. Other groups included Capt. Signola, Kapola, Menis etc. and the guns I saw were the RPG, G2pk, Tyel, S-M-G, Recilence, bombs etc. The LRA rebels said child-soldiers fight better then old soldiers, since he/she can dodge bullets easier. Girls were raped and given to their soldiers as the girls could select clothes of their respective husbands. Young children were treated by the doctors of the group with drugs robbed from clinics during an attack. Bathing was not there and we could bath as we cross the swamps and the children were very dirty with a lot of lice in both head and waists and in all clothes. We could carry heavy luggage and be beaten severely so as to move very fast, other children were killed during battling with UPDF due to cross fire and others killed in ambushes. Escorts were facing several problems, because we were the first people to be shot since the army wanted to kill big people like commanders and we were considered security for the commanders.

The rebel forced us to clean all the parts of the gun and I could understand some of them Magazine, pestle grip, trigger, cocking handle etc. As training for both boys and girls and the LRA rebels compose of both women and men who are equipped solders ready for war. Some strong boys were made to carry sick rebels, those who were killed in battle and those ones wounded and a live. They could take the dead ones to throw in swamps such that the government troops could wonder that they do not die and therefore begin to fear them as they become curious. The rebels told and warned the abducted children that whoever escapes would be killed when got and for those who will not be got, when they take over the government, they would come to their respective areas where they were abducted from and find them and kill them.

The rebels again emphasized that after the training, the abducted children would be given guns which were to be got from the government troops (UPDF) during battle. When we reached of Soroti district, I then started thinking how to escape because I knew the place and by then I was free to go anywhere since I was an escort. One day when we were in one of the Sub-County in Soroti called Tubur, at around five o’clock in the evening, I then entered the bush after eating as if I was going to defecate. I then entered to a bushy cassava and hiding my self and I had left their bag, chair and their gun. I then kept quiet as the rest of the escorts came calling me when the group was moving. My keeping quiet made them to go rudely and promised to kill me if they were to get me again.

I then began to move to the other sides of the swamp and slept at a certain home. That night I dreamt that the rebels had come again for me in that house and that they had given me a bag to go back with them.

Mosquitoes were a problem to me. I had nothing to use as a sheet apart from the jacket I had helped me from that quiet village. Early in the morning I went towards our place and on my way I met another group and fortunately they did not see me and I ran to the bush until they passed and I then branched to the way again and when I reached a certain center called Achuna, there were civilians who also started running, they thought I was a rebel. I tried to stop them but some could not stop. The few who stopped were standing a distance a part observing me properly whether I was the real man. The few then accepted to take me to the barracks where the government soldiers were there in the camp of Orungo. The soldiers then gave me food and others could remove lice from my clothes and others were even crying. Then one of the women told me that your father was also killed by the same rebels and I began crying and I was taken in to the barracks and kept there. I was then taken to Soroti where the children who were abducted were kept for counseling. There I met my mother and by then I started going to school to P.F. in 2004. I then entered S1 and some people helped to pay for my school fees for only one year. In 2005 I stayed in the camp as an orphan with my mother a widow and her other three orphans and I helped her digging while staying at home without school fees.

In 2006 Pilgrim education department started registering for children where I was also blessed with chance for education. I am now in S 3 2007 and I need help. My fathers bones are still in the bush and he was not buried at home and in Uganda, such one must be brought home and it needs a lot of attention and my mother is very pour she has no money.

For helping this orphans as they are in the camp suffering without even good house for sleeping God bless.

Blessed is the hand that giveth than the one receiving.

XXXX

LETTER #5 This girl was abducted when he was 13 years old.

I am known by XXXX and I am 17 yrs Old. I was born in Amuria district, Morungatuny Sub County. Presently I am in XXXX Secondary School in form 3 (three) under Pilgrim education support.

I was abducted by the Lords Resistance Army on August 28, 2003 from Morungatuny Sub County where I was beaten severely as I was trying to resist moving with them, because I was afraid to them and they took me to where the whole group was camped where by they took all the property, killed people, burning the houses and destroy every thing which is in our village, then I was given to carry a bag of sugar while I was tied on the waist with a rope with other abducties. Unfortunately while we are moving the Uganda people’s defense force helicopter comes and found us on the way where it decided to bomb us killing some rebels and many abducties and God is able some of us managed to survive as we continue moving. We moved a long distance of about 30 miles from where we camped and looking for food and we again risen up and started another journey going to northern at places of Acholi, Gulu, up to Pader where we found “Joseph Kony” the president of the Lords Resistance Army at the Uganda border that is to say between Uganda and Sudan where we met many attacks from the Uganda peoples defense forces which made some abducties to escape and most of them were killed including the rebels. It was toward the end of October when they were mainly mostly attacked and they decided to change policy that “The movement they get anybody they have to kill without excuse” hence giving death too many abducties because of minor reasons (cases). All that time when it reaches to the month of December famine started to kill many of the abducties and tropical diseases like malaria were also a problem to both rebels and abducties. When we reach to Sudan on May 2004 we faced a lot of wars which results to my escape from the Lords Resistance Army.

In conclusion, as far as I have explained the LRA rebels did many unnecessary activities in Uganda which have still existed up to now and they are still rebelling against the government of Uganda and yet one problem they don’t face the government but they decided to kill the people that was govern.

I pray may God help us with all the problem we have and may god bless the work of Pilgrim education department and the lady who took our photos and the people of United States of America and at time as I was in Sortie Municipal Sec. School where some of the abducties are kept the situation is not yet favorable because some times I recall to the back ground of my being with Kony and sometimes I recall as if I am still in the bush and I was on the leadership of Dominic Ongween.

Thank you for reading my story

XXXX

LETTER #6 This girl was abducted when she was 13 years old.

How I was abducted by the rebels resistance army.

Hello,

I am XXXX from form (2). I am 17 yrs. Old and I was born in 1990.

The Lord’s resistance Army abducted me from XXXX in 2003 on the 17^th of June at home. I was got when I was trying to hide my follower and all of them were young as I am. The first born in mother’s side. Unfortunately the rebels got me and they took me up to the certain village which I don’t know since I was not born there, but due to gods love I don’t know since I was enable to come back from those people in the way that God made them asleep and I escaped from them and I started rolling for about 1km just because I had fear that I might get some of them again. I stopped because I was tired and I rested for 1 hour from a certain tree but I saw a big snake then and then I stand up and I started running without knowing the direction of my place good enough. I got soldiers in the certain village resting and they helped me they also gave me some food and drinking water as I was very tired and hungry. Then they took me up to the barracks. They started asking me about the way I was abducted and joined them, then asked me my parents and told them all what they asked me. The following day they took me up to Soroti town where the abducted children were collected and we stayed for 2 weeks when they were treating us. Some of us were beaten seriously and so I was latter treatment. They announced through the radio informing our parents to come for us and my father came for me that very day. I became very happy to be back home.

In conclusion I thank God for the love he has for me, because he brought me back home unlike some of my friends who were killed from the bush.

Thank you my

friends in America

XXXX

LETTER #7 This boy was 17 years old when he was abducted by the LRA.

I am XXXX, a student of XXXX SS

I’m am Senior special Arts, I’m 21 years old and Etesot by tribe.

The rebels caught me in Obalanga Sub Count in Amuria district

On the 20^th of July 2003.

I stayed in the bush for 3 months under horrible situation including torture and forms of human mistreatment. It was not until the Uganda People Defense forces and arrow boys attracted the rebel that I got the chance to escape. As I was captured by the rebels, my education had to end completely. Thank God Pilgrim came looking for students who failed to continue with education that I had to take the blessing and I got registered!! Now I’m at school just as any other student else where.

This is the brief biography of myself.

XXXX

LETTER #8 This girl was 9 years old when she was abducted by the LRA.

Hallo,

I am known by the names XXXX and I am 13 years old and I was born in 1994. I am now in form two in XXXX Senior Secondary School. I am now writing a brief about my difficulties I got before I came to XXXX XXXX Senior secondary school for my studies. Since us in Uganda here we were being tortured by the LRA rebels we suffered a lot now I want to tell you that we were in the bad conditions during that running the LRA rebels took me from our home then they took me again to their homeland and from there I tried my level best to escape from their lands and then I came back to our homeland and then from there stayed at home for 2 years because there was no person to pay my school fees. I remained like that without going to school and the thing made me to stay at home is that they killed my father which was going to try to get some little money for taking me to school. From there one day I went to the village to dig with my mum then we came back from digging from our village and hard that there are some people who come to look for the children who supposed to go to school and they have no way of paying there school fees. I went also to write my name because we were in IDP camps. I wrote the name. They succeeded then the organization of Pilgrim brought me to school. Then I started to enjoy with my studies and now I am okay. I thank God for the work he did to me saving me from poverty I was with, at home without even study. God is not a selfish God he heard whatever I prayed for since that war was there. And God may bless the donors for having being able to pay for my school fees. Now I am concluding by sending you a warm greetings that God bless you all from USA

I am Ugandan girl in Amuria District

Thanks yours faithfully

Your daughter

XXXX

LETTER #9 This boy was 16 years old he was abducted by the LRA.

Challenges faced when I was abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels.

I am XXXX, Senior six science.

Etesoi by tribe, 20 yrs old.

I was abducted in Obalanga sub-county in Amori a district when I was having a rest after having a lot of work and feeling tired in a way that I could not run any where when the rebels surrounded me and some other youth of my size. I was tied like a goat, a rope on the hand and given a lot of heavy load to carry on the head and a lot of mistreatment in the bush for example beatings, no eating for 2-3 days or more, carry wounded rebels on your heads, walking for long distances without resting and so on.

Than takes from Obalanga UPIO Pader district in the northern region a place which you have never reached since you were born due to harsh treatment, the legs swelled hand swelling and if you say that I am tired you are just killed there and the group is harried to move.

Under this suffering I continued to pray to the all might God to keep me under all this harsh condition and by a later time God responded to my prayers which I used to pray at around mid-night when all the rebels are sleeping and the rope is on the hand I could not escape due to the fear of being killed because some people who used to escape and unfortunately caught by the rebels were brought back and killed in front of us. So one day it was at mid day when the Ugandan People’s Defiance forces (UPDF) and Arrow Boys attacked the rebels in the bush and some of them ran and me and some five boys remained hiding in the bush and when the soldiers came closer to us we raise up and said that we are abducties and they recognized us.

By that moment I was returned home in Obalanga sub-county finding out that the parents are displaced and my education had stopped, because I taken to the bush for months and from then I asked my self how I will continue schooling but there was no answer. Luckily God was hearing my question and by that time a certain organization came to Obalanga camp looking for registering the school dropout due to the insurgence of the rebels to our regain and also registered for this organization and that is why I am under Pilgrim organization department of education.

God bless those who care for my studies

XXXX

LETTER #10 This boy was 10 years old when he was abducted by the LRA.

The story how I was abducted by LRA (Narrow Escape)

Dear sir/madam,

I am going to give you my story in the bush with LRA. My name is XXXX, 14 years old, form three. Sir/madam, it was on the 13^th/06/2003 when this people abducted me from our place Amuna Acowa, Akouetom in the evening they took us and we went to sleep in the bush after. In the morning we left while carrying sugar about 50kg of sugar, accidentally the sugar fell down and I was caned seriously. They tied me a rope in my hand but by then I was injured cut and I had no shoes at that particular time, on addition to that they didn’t treat. Evening came and immediately the soldiers arrived they started fire, besides we were tied tightly so that we couldn’t escape and in any case we tried to escape they beat us hardly. As they were preparing food, the airplane came to find them still busy cooking. It began throwing bombs, so we had to run away without eating from there it was quite a distance near the border between Lango and Teso region.

The food that we used to eat in the bush were the things like sorghum, cassava, potatoes and so on and for them could enjoy things like meat, rice, soda which could be broken from shops homes and so on. Life was difficult. They killed very many people in the camps including some of my relatives. Since I had experience all those difficulties, I planned to escape back home on the other hand, if I escaped at night I had to sleep up the trees as there was no way and a place to sleep. The following morning I continued with the journey certainly I reached to a place where I didn’t know the natives around but luckily enough I got a man who knew me and took me to the sub- county head quarters from there they took me home but even since the ideas from the bush are still in my thoughts, because there was no counseling and given the game like football.

Lastly on coming back home every thing was burnt and there was nothing to be used. Assuredly I don’t have a father but only the mother who could help me with some things but could not provide every thing possible like education, some basic needs that clothes books because some people are helping some how but fully (Pilgrim).

I conclude by saying may god bless you as you are reading this.

XXXX

LRA means Lords Resistance Army rebels

LETTER #11 This boy was 16 years old when he was abducted by the LRA.

The challenges that I faced with when I was abducted by the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) rebels:

I am XXXX

I am Etesot aged 20 Obalanga Sub county in Amuria District.

I was abducted after the rebels attacked our sub-county on the 1^st of June 2003. After the rebels had attacked our village very many people where killed and as I was running to escape from the attack I entered into an ambush being lead by the rebels and they got hold of me. I was given to carry luggage and I was seriously beaten because I tried to resist them.

I was given to some other rebels to lead us the abducties to Pader. After finishing two days on the way I felt tired and I was too hungry because there was no food and I was also tired from footing all that journey. The gunship came and there we had so many injuries but still we could not escape form those people.

We continued with our journey up to Pader where we stayed for about 2 days and the army attacked the rebels that was the beginning of total suffering. We were seriously beaten, and also we were given to eat half cooked food.

After two days I managed to escape from them. The army brought me back to my village.

After reaching the village I found that all my parents had been killed, then one of my relatives took me up to the camp together with my two young brothers. We stayed in the camp for one week but I found that life was not possible, then we forced ourselves to go up to Soroti in Serere Pingire sub county, where by some people helped us with food and accommodation.

Than after words Pilgrim program came and I was collected from Jerese that year to go back to school because I was in Senior five then I continued with studies under Pilgrim up to now I am in Senior six (6) doing physics chemistry and biology.

And I have a dream of being Manager of computer science and technology.

I also love god so much as my first choice

I would love to end here by saying that God be with us all amen

XXXX

Senior six (6) Science

LETTER #12 This girl was 13 years old when she was abducted by the LRA.

Dear Friends

I am known by the names XXXX. I was born in 1990 age 17 years old and I am a Ugandan by origin. First of all let me begin by saying greetings to all of you and I started my studies in 1997. And when I reached to primary 7 in 2003 first term I studied only for 2 weeks. When we reach to the end for 2^nd term in June the 15 2003 when the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels came and took my father. At mid day (lunch time) the rebels came and got my parents at home, they asked my parents that where are your children. They answered that they have died and then one came and stone my mother while the other 6 were trying to look us at the bush. When we were hiding from the bush and they found us they started asking for me questions that what is your name? I was not able to answer because I was shaking seriously. At that time they took me up to a certain mountain called Willa and they started cooking from there they told us not to eat their food. After they finish to eat they told us to eat their leftovers we also enjoyed very much but nothing was happened. One day and we started spent 3 days from there the next day they moved with us again to another swampy lake where by we were supposed to cross the lake but we were not able to cross, but they forced us to cross the lake, me and my two brother. One was killed and dropped into the water and we remained only 2, me and my follower. But when we continued our journey we started crying and they told us what are you crying for, our brother which you have dropped into water, and then they told us that we shall kill all of you. Then we kept quite when we reached to Lira district we also spent 1 month from there we went also to Pader district where by the met with the UPDF soldiers. They started fighting for 3 hours and the soldiers were defeated and they took us up to Gulu and we spent 3month from there but there was no food to eat. That day we slept without food, but God was able to help us up to the time I escaped from Oditel and now I am not feeling well because some time if you stay a lone you might remember those things which was happened last.

But that was my story about the way I escaped form them.

I really thank God for the work he has done to my self

Thanks From

XXXX

LETTER #13 This boy was 16 years old when he was abducted by the LRA.

Challenges I faced when I was abducted by the rebels in 2003

I am XXXX 20 years old originating from Kaberamotido district Otubo sub-county and I am Etesot by tribe.

When I was at home the anti government forces (rebels) attacked Teso as a whole. While the rebels were there, they started abducting children. Youth, women, old people were killed some were burned alive even cut into pieces. The houses were burnt and their properties, animals kept at homes were stolen, leaving people without anything there later resulted to poverty.

I personally was caught at night when it was raining while keeping in kitchen. I was made to carry stolen properties of about 50lb bag of rice, sugar while the chains were on our waist with my friends also. Whenever I join to walk I am beaten seriously until you reach the night destination. Food was not enough since many people were taken, and when ever we try to go and look for food you are given what is not enough for some one to eat.

One month later I was also granted some force power to lead the others to go and look for food, women for our masters while at bush. Thorns were all over my body with a lot of injuries sleepless nights. When it rains heavily there is nothing I could do. The rebels forced me to kill my bother in-law which some couldn’t do if it was normal. I was given to take some blood of a dead body all these changed my thinking completely to a mad man apart from that I was given to eat leaves of mangoes when food is not there.

In the long run I kept on praying in the bush. One day I told my friends of what I learned of that we are going back home. One week later after the dream I was sent to spy where government forces are located with a heavy load of over two bags on the head and a distance of about 32 kilometers every day. When I reached home place I decided to escape with two boys my age mates and some Acholi brothers up to the barracks when we reached there we told them a story of what happened they listened and they were able to take us back to our homes.

After coming back from the bush the government took me to school and I was able to complete my ordinary level at a set for my Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB). A certain organization came, Pilgrim to take me to a school called XXXX Secondary School.

Yours sincerely

XXXX

LETTER #14 This girl was 11 years old when she was abducted by the LRA.

Dear Sir / Madam

I have by starting to tell a story how I was abducted by the LRA rebels, before I start talking, I am known by the name XXXX now a story is as written below:

I was abducted around 7:00am in the morning when I was around 11yrs. I was in primary 6. I study only one term in the year 2003 I was taken by the rebels. They took me up to the place where I didn’t know since I was born. They took me to a place far away from home of about 3km. When we continued with the Journeys I asked them that where are we going then they told me that why are you asking the reason why I am asking is that I want to know where we are going when we continued with the journey. I told them please, you people I am very tired of walking and I am feeling hunger since this journey is still far a way from where we started. Then this people told me that let us walk for one more kilometer then we shall rest under any tree which has a shade.

Immediately we rested then the war again broke out. These people started fighting at around 3:00 pm during evening hours. After these people had fought, they prepared for us maize and sorghum, meanwhile mixing with milk then they told us to eat, meanwhile we were tied with ropes, hands behind but they expected us to eat. When we were tightened for them they were starting to eat meanwhile we were feeling hunger. After they finished eating, they untied us and they gave us only drinking water and we accepted to drink. After we drank, I fell asleep, I then fell down in a hole for a deep sleep, when I was awake I then found that these people had already gone with all my friends. I found my self remaining in the bush alone. I then stood up and I started looking around the bush thinking that they have already killed all of them. Then I started calculating how far the distance from home. After me calculating I started following the route we passed when I reached near by the roads my head started ringing to go back to a place where I was!

In conclusion I thank God for what he has done into my life, because I was thinking that these people were going to kill me and also I survived by the grace and mercifulness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord always blesses the work of your hands Amen

bye

The Lord be with you

LETTER #15 This boy was 13 years old when he was abducted by the LRA.

The story how I was abducted by LRA rebels and changes I experienced.

Dear Sir / Madam;

In fact I humbly write a story about how I was abducted by the LRA rebels. First of all I am by the names XXXX. Ugandan by nationality aged 17 years and Etesot by tribe. I am studying in level three (senior three). I am from Oditel Akoromit

Parish. A XXXX Village Amuria district. Is my back ground origin.

The incident of the event of the LRA invasion took place in June 2003 where the rebels invaded Teso region in Uganda and I happened to be the captive. I was beaten, tied on the arms, given to move long distances on foot without shoes. Force to carry heavy bag of food, salt and forced to steal in order to get something to eat.

One day when we were moving the gunship of the army came and they exchanged the firearms and that very night evening I managed to escape but it was a narrow escape until I reached home finding that there was none at home. I was very hungry I came Soroti where my guardians were until the situation calmed when we went back home there was no education due to lack of money I stayed home until Pilgrim brought me now I am studying, but there are my desperate brothers at home they also need education and now I am okay for a while that is what I experience in my life.

Thanks your Son

XXXX

LETTER #16 This girl was 10 years old when she was abducted by the LRA.

Narrow Escape

Dear Friends

Greetings to all you.

I am known by the name XXXX. I am a born of Acowa (Amuria District). I am 14 years old and I am in form two. I stay with my mother since my father died in 2003. In our home we are six children and I am the second born and my mother is a peasant.

In the late 2003 when the Lord Resistance army (LRA) attacked our place it was a Monday. They came and they found me when I was cooking when my father was killed and I was caught by the rebels where they took me up to a certain bush where we took about 1 month. After we continued the journey up to Lira district they were raping girls, killing people and had my brothers and day we started to plan how to escape from there. In that year I was still young and I was in primary five where I missed studies for a whole year.

In the bush it was at night when LRA rebels were sleeping when they surrounded us in the middle with guns as others were resting meant we decided to escape from there. On our way back we finished two weeks of walking. At that time we were not eating enough food or water. Actually we reached home at night. We also found every thing being damaged and destroyed where our mother decided to go to a peaceful place. We stayed from there for 2 years in 2005 our mother returned us from there to our original home land, where right now we live in camps, for a while with out seeing some of our relatives or parents.

I really put my hands together to thank God for the great work he has done for me in this world for survival to situation I am now in. In future after my studies, I promise to be a bank manager in Anurso and I have promise after my studies I would like to come to United States of America. Greet the friends and sisters in the USA

May God Bless You All

XXXX

LETTER #17 This boy was abducted when he was 17 years old.

Narrow Escape

I am XXXX aged 22 years born to the widow named XXXX. I am in senior six (S-6) science, Etesot by tribe born in XXXX camp.

It was a Monday night at 1:30 am on the 16/06/2003 when I first met the most serious experiences in life. The whole camp was surrounded by the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) rebels; gun shots was the music of the night and each and every one was trembling.

I woke up to my feet, only to find that three armed rebels were by the door side. The most scaring words that they used were that, they were going to burn the hut. So I had to gently march out without any resistance. The welcome that I got from them was a slap on my left cheek and kicks on my back and buttocks. So they tied me and asked me to escort them to one of the most genuine shop; of which I did to try to rescue my self. But that was not enough, they looted the shop and gave me to carry three crates of soda for seven kilometers (7km). This was so tiresome and I threw the crated. This influenced them to beat me to faint.

We spent a night in one of the jungles. At that night, a heavy rain fell, and this was enough to make me regain my breath, Drugs were a dream, fresh cassava was the only best meal for me.

After two weeks, there was a lot of moving and colliding with government soldiers. Training was on the ground for take cover, carrying the injured rebels was the order from the top officials, and life had to push on like that.

Later on when we entered to one of the heavy ambushes, a number of the rebels were killed, including the captives, but with God’s luck I managed to roll for at least 200 m which at least gave every good distance from the attack.

So from that day, I thought of returning back home but it was a tug of war, thorns on my feet, sleepless nights on the bush, till finally I arrived home. This was a great moment for my mother, who welcomed me with a hug and quickly boiled some water to give me drink without sugar. Since she thought this could help my stomach and intestines to relax before I eat anything.

On a sad note, she said mean while tears falling on her eyes “most of our family members have been killed”. This traumatized me and only what I would say is “God knows what he is doing”. And this could calm her anger and loneliness.

To get school fees was like milking a dead cow. My poor mom could toil together with me in people’s gardens to get some money but luckily enough, Pilgrim reached to our camp as one of its organizations will to help the students in need. And I am quite happy because I believe if things go on I will achieve my ambition of doctor. The only worry is my young brothers and friends who are helpless at camp. How can I rescue them?

“Oh cheers, God is great”

NB. I would like to have a caring, sharing friend in America, your welcome.

By XXXX

LETTER #18 This girl was 11 years old when she was abducted by the LRA.

This is a story about my life.

My name is XXXX. I am 15 yrs. old and in senior three.

My mother produced 6 of us and two died. I am the second. I was abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels in 2003, but I managed to escape and I came back. When I came back and found our home was already burnt by the rebels and my parents were also killed. I was homeless and I didn’t know what else I could do.

But I thank God for Pilgrim because they have brought hope and life to us again. In the bush, life was so hard. We didn’t have food to eat and we had to survive on roots and the swampy water.

We would walk for a long distance on foot without complaining because if you do they would kill you. It was a nasty experience.

I want to thank you a lot for helping us.

May God bless you

Thanks

XXXX

LETTER #19 This girl was 13 years old when she was abducted by the LRA.

Hi to you. I am 17 years born in 1990-5-2^nd. How I was abducted by Lord Resistance Army (LRA)

I am known by the names; XXXX. I am an orphan. My parents were killed by the rebels both father and mother and my origin is Kitgum district where I started facing problems clearly with my naked eyes and I under went very many problems. At first of all is;

I was abducted by the rebels in the year 2003 July but by God’s mercy he made me to escape and I came back after that suffering moving for a long distance on foot about 68km, from Kitgum to Padder district when it was at morning and evening on Thursday God heard my prayers and released me from their camp, so then I came back home by the journey from Padder to Kitgum. I was about to run and by that time or moment I was on the way, the soldiers realized where they (the rebels) were hiding immediately they ambushed the solders and started fighting there and then the guns were to be shoot every where and a certain vehicle arrived of the soldiers and brought me up to Gulu and they gave me some guidance by the Soroti people, they used to send some things and also C.C.F.

I myself am so happy now because Pilgrim has sponsored me also in terms of education, but truly, our home is just not organized due to only children that is I XXXX and some two little young kids one is in P.4 and another is in P.6. We are only 2 girls so then I want to thank and even praise God for this all that God is putting across my life. I pray that may the almighty God bless you for what you are doing to us. And even let’s continue praising his name for the plan he is giving us on this earth.

God bless you

XXXX

LETTER #20 This girl was 13 years old when she was abducted by the LRA.

I am known by the names XXXX, and I am a Ugandan girl of 17 years old I was born in 1988. In Amuria district and by then our family was totally poor due to the following reasons.

Although our family was poor, I was able to complete my primary education in XXXX primary school. The war started in 2003 and we were in bad trouble during that time.

One day when we were in digging the garden I and my elder sisters. The LRA found us when we were digging in the garden they tied us with ropes and they took us to their homeland and we asked them where they were taking us, but they slapped us seriously. As we reached there we found many LRA gathering from there waiting for ourselves. Then when we reached there we found so many problems like carrying heavy things there was even no way of getting food so we had to suffer from there. I tried to escape form them, but there was no way of escaping, so we spent one year in their homeland. And one day at night, when they were sleeping I and my friend was able to escape from there. On our way coming back we spent again one month on the way and found another group (LRA) from there we stayed again from there almost one week. And again we struggle the way of escaping. We managed to escape and we come to a certain camp then we found the soldiers (Ugandan) they escorted us to our homes.

So when we reached home our parents were very happy. As I came back home my aunt came and took me to Pallisa then completed my primary education from Pallisa. Then I got these sponser.

May God bless you so much

Yours Faithfully

XXXX